EXPLORE

“The Joseph and Katherine Severa Skala house, built near Battle Creek in 1869, is a rare product of Czech-American culture. Discovered inside a house being demolished in 1968, the remains were moved here. The timber rooms have been preserved as found, and, except for the roof and two later openings, reflect the original construction.

 

The structure is a masterpiece of ancient Slavic carpentry skills so old they are rare even in Europe. This Czech technique is distinguished from similar methods by the use of thin planks set within a post-and-beam frame. Known as post-and-panel construction, this is the only example in Nebraska. The planks are so skillfully crafted that they rest perfectly upon each other. The unusual two-room arrangement is also an old Czech peasant cottage plan. Noteworthy interior features include the tie beams, and the diagonally-placed willow lathes with mud and straw plaster.”

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~NE State Historical Marker Text

Dr. Edward Tanner was born in 1855 in Lacona, New York. He attended the University of New York City and graduated with his medical degree in 1879.

 

He came to Battle Creek in 1881 and started his medical practice.

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The Heritage Museum was Dr. Edward Tanner’s office from 1881 through 1935. The building served many purposes, including a restaurant, a car dealership, and the first REA facility.

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His medical office building is now the Heritage History Museum, where many of his furnishings and supplies are displayed, including his medical bag, desk, library, and examination table. Dr. Tanner also kept a dental chair in his office for traveling dentists to provide care for his patients. 

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Also displayed are a collection of Kewpie dolls, Indian artifacts, and a photo collection of the town as it was being built and grew into a flourishing town. ​​

The Battle Creek History Walk showcases photos and stories of the town’s history from the first settlers through the 1930s. Currently, twenty-four stands are placed along the walking paths to educate, entertain, and celebrate the people and places that make the area so unique.

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You'll discover that Rose O'Neill, the writer, suffragist, and creator of the Kewpie doll, the first novelty toy distributed worldwide, lived in Battle Creek until age fourteen.

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The largest horse in the world in 1925, Lubber, was owned by a Battle Creek family. Lubber stood 21 hands high and weighed 3,120 pounds at just six years old. 

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And that Nebraska's first woman aviatrix, Ethel Ives Tillotson, lived in Battle Creek and flew planes at the Yellow Banks Park.​​

Petalesharo is a Pawnee name meaning "Chief of Men" or "Man Chief." Petalesharo was born around 1823 and died in 1874. At 29, following his father's death, Petalesharo was chosen to be the First Chief of the Chaui band of the Pawnee. He stood over 6 feet tall and was known to be an excellent orator.

 

Petalesharo was devoted to the good of his people and tried to work peacefully with the U.S. government. He signed the 1857 treaty first, which ceded ancestral lands, except for a small reservation on the Loup River, indicating his importance among the other Pawnee chiefs.

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Each year, a full-size tepee is erected in the park to honor Native Americans, especially the Pawnee tribes that once lived in this area. 

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A 3-Sisters garden is also planted each year, educating visitors on the Native Americans' wisdom in growing food, and many of the plants and grasses in the park were used by the tribe for medicinal purposes.